Hoarders often believe they're doing right thing

Hoarding is a growing concern not only in our community but across the United States as a whole. Animal hoarding is even more complex as it crosses many aspects of life. Not only is there animal welfare and public safety concerns but much of the time, there are also mental health issues and other medical issues of the hoarder.

Hoarding occurs when there are more animals than a single person can care for. This person or multiple people in a home overwhelmed by animals can’t adequately provide for the basic needs of the animals. They can’t provide proper food, shelter, veterinary care or even a clean living environment for the animals nor for their own care.

Many times hoarders believe that they are doing a good thing. They believe that they are saving the animal or animals from a much worse fate. However, if you’ve ever been in a hoarding house or seen the conditions from a television show, they actually aren’t. No living being should be allowed to live in conditions that many hoarders end up in. It’s not good for the animals and most importantly is not healthy for the humans.

Do not jump to conclusions and think that everyone with multiple animals is a hoarder. That’s simply not the case. There are many people who are able to properly care for multiple animals. They have the ability and means to provide for each and every animal in their care.

However, there are signs that a person may be pushing the line and fit the hoarder profile. First of all, they may not be able to tell how many animals they have. The number that they admit to owning changes often. They may be ashamed to actually admit to how many they own and care for.

Most hoarding homes will also have a strong smell of ammonia seeping out. Much of the time, you can smell it way before you approach the home. You may not be able to see the floor as it’s covered with feces, urine or even newspapers or paper towels where they’ve tried to cover the mess. There may just be a small path to travel thru the home.

The home may be in poor repair. They may spend all the money that they have trying to take care of the animals and don’t have anything left to make repairs and don’t have the energy to clean.

The animals themselves are in very bad shape. With so many animals to care for, grooming isn’t a priority. Animals may be dirty and matted. They may be not well socialized. They may be skinny, have overgrown toenails and just look not well. They may also be infested with fleas and ticks. Rats and mice may also be present in the home due to the lack of repairs.

Hoarding takes a big toll on the human or humans involved as well. Though hoarding itself is not a mental health diagnosis yet, most people who hoard are diagnosed with a variety of mental health issues. They may be isolated from friends & family. They don’t take care of their own health. The conditions of the home can cause respiratory issues and other medical issues as well.

It is estimated that over 250, 000 animals fall victim to hoarding cases in the United States. Locally, we see it again and again. Animal Services has seized not only dogs, cats and livestock but also a variety of exotic animals over the years from hoarding situations.

Working with a person who hoards animals is complex. It’s not as easy as charging them with criminal charges as they need more assistance and it involves multiple agencies to support the person to help them not repeat this behavior.

However, you can speak up and be a voice if you see a situation that is problematic or is on its way to being a problem. It’s easier on all involved to step in before it’s completely out of control and so many are harmed whether we’re referring to animals or humans. We all know those people that live in our neighborhoods or may be family members or friends. Reach out and offer assistance or contact someone who can help.

Pet columnist Katrena Hamberger can be reached at katrenam72@gmail.com